come. It's only that I didn't like to think of not
making her acquaintance at all.'

'There's no reason why I shouldn't explain it to you,' Thyrza said,
holding her hands together. 'My sister has never been with any except
working people, and it is quite natural that she should feel a little
afraid of meeting strangers. I'm sure she needn't be; but of course I
must do what she wishes.'

'But, my dear, surely nobody in the world could be afraid of _us_! And,
as you say, I feel certain that _your_ sister needn't be afraid of any
one. I'll come up and see her, and we'll talk a little, and she'll get
used to me.'

'Yes. I am so glad she is coming!'

'I'm sure you are. And how well you look to-night, dear! It's so seldom
you have any colour in your cheeks. There now! If I was another sort of
person, you'd go away thinking I'd said that on purpose to hurt you.'

'How could I?' Thyrza uttered in surprise. 'What sort of people would
have that thought?'

'Oh, very many that I know.'

'Surely not, Mrs. Emerson! But it's quite true; my cheeks feel a little
hot to-night. They generally do when I've been making myself very happy
about anything.'

'But you're always so happy.'

'Not more than you are,' Thyrza replied, laughing.

'Well, I think you show it more. When I'm happiest, I sit very quiet,
and look very dull. Now you sing, and your eyes get so bright and
large, you don't know how large your eyes look sometimes.'

Thyrza laughed and shook her head.

'I sing too much,' she said. 'If I don't mind I shall be hurting my
voice. But it's late; I must be off to bed. And I know I shan't sleep
all night. To tell the truth, it isn't often I sleep more than three or
four hours. Good-night, Mrs. Emerson!

'Good-night, happy girl!'

She went away, laughing in pure, liquid notes. Her light step could not
be heard as she ran up the stairs.

It wanted but a week of the day to which Thyrza's life had pointed for
two years. That day of the month had stood long since marked upon her
calendar; and now the long months had annihilated themselves; it wanted
but seven days.

External changes of some importance had come to her of late. Since her
admission to Mr. Redfern's choir she no longer wrought with her needle.
More than that, every other day there came a lady who read with her and
taught her. The time of weary toil without assistance was over. She had
never been able to seek help of Mrs. Emerson; it was repugnant to her
to